Paramedics’ strike cripples Patiala’s Rajindra Hospital

Negotiations between Patiala’s Rajindra Hospital paramedical staff, who have been on an indefinite strike for the past 21 days for regularisation of their services, and medical education secretary Vikas Partap failed in Chandigarh on Tuesday and the protesting workers decided not to open the medical superintendent’s office, outpatient department (OPD) building and operations theatres (OTs).

Nurses and ancillary staff union chief Karamjit Kaur said: “Though the medical education secretary assured us of regularisation, we will not end our protest until we get a copy of the notification. We were told that cabinet would decide about the notification.”(Bharat Bhushan/HT Photo)

Negotiations between Patiala’s Rajindra Hospital paramedical staff, who have been on an indefinite strike for the past 21 days for regularisation of their services, and medical education secretary Vikas Partap failed in Chandigarh on Tuesday and the protesting workers decided not to open the medical superintendent’s office, outpatient department (OPD) building and operations theatres (OTs).

Nurses and ancillary staff union chief Karamjit Kaur said: “Though the medical education secretary assured us of regularisation, we will not end our protest until we get a copy of the notification. We were told that cabinet would decide about the notification.”

High drama was witnessed in the hospital on Tuesday when the paramedical staff refused to open the lock of the medical superintendent’s office. Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) HS Sudan tried to persuade the protesting staff to open the lock, but to no avail, as they insisted a meeting with chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. The protesters shouted slogans against the state government and the SDM had to leave.

Reacting to the stalemate, medical superintendent BS Brar said: “The ball is in the administration’s court now. The OPD, OTs and my office remained locked today.”

The Bharti Kisan Union Ekta (Dakaunda) also came in the support of the protesting staff. “Their demand is genuine and they should be regularised. The government has betrayed the paramedical staff and is promoting privatisation in the health sector,” union leader Avtar Singh Kaurjiwala said.

Meanwhile, patients at Rajindra Hospital continued to suffer due to protest as the OPD and OT services remained paralysed for the third consecutive day today. The protesters locked six wards after the Monday’s meeting with Dr Manjit Kaur Mohi, director, medical education and research, failed.

Nachhattar Singh, 60, a patient who came from Devigarh, said: “I am told that the OPD is closed today. Earlier too, I had to return as the OPD was closed. I can’t afford treatment at a private clinic. Where should I go now? When will the strike end?”